Ranking the 10 Most Intimidating Stadiums in World Rugby | Bleacher Report Ranking the 10 Most Intimidating Stadiums in World Rugby By Danny Coyle , Featured Columnist Apr 18, 2014 Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse the slideshow Ian Walton/Getty Images 5 Comments Home advantage counts for a lot in sport, especially rugby. If you can turn your ground into a bear pit, it not only galvanizes the home players but will go a long way to unsettling the visiting side as well. Rugby has a rich tradition of characterful, raucous arenas that prove anything but happy hunting grounds for travelling teams. Here are the 10 most intimidating. 10. Millennium Stadium Jon Super Some grounds can summon enough energy to make it impossible for their side to do anything other than blow their opponents away. This is what the supporters inside the Millennium Stadium achieved in 2013 when they faced England to decide the Six Nations Championship. The high-banked stands and closed roof allow the noise to pour down onto the players on the turf below, and that night they did so to devastating effect as England were sent packing 30-3 .

New grounds can struggle for atmosphere, but since it’s opening in the lat 90s, the Millennium Stadium has never failed to deliver. 9. Welford Road David Rogers/Getty Images Leicester Tigers are renowned for their hard-nosed approach to the game, from the days of the ABC club in the front row to tales of training-ground brawls all designed to produce rough, tough forwards who will never take a backward step on the field. They are a club without frills. So it goes for their famous home ground. Welford Road is a proper rugby ground. Stands tight to the field, crowd never anything but partisan, passionate and packed in. With two stands now redeveloped, the stadium has lost none of its edge. The players still come out of the old Crumbie Stand, crossing the concourse to reach the steps down onto the pitch and roared back in by their supporters. In 2009, to open their new Caterpillar Stand, they hosted the Springboks and beat them on a cold midweek night that reminded everyone of the value of midweek tour matches and the kind of atmosphere they can generate.

Tweet No longer with us, the stadium nicknamed the House of Pain was like no other in world rugby. Nestled on the edge of Dunedin, it was a Mecca for the city’s huge student population, known as "Scarfies," who would often drag sofas onto the terraces and, being students never likely to transport the things home again, set fire to them at the end of the game. The locals also had a penchant for launching nearly finished cans of the local brew into the air in a Mexican Wave format, creating this blue wave of aluminium thundering around the stands. If you didn’t duck at the right moment, a night watching the rugby at Carisbrook could, as the nickname suggests, be a painful experience indeed. The ground was retired before the 2011 World Cup, and rugby is now played at the covered Forsyth Barr Stadium. Not quite the same ring to it. 6. Kingsholm Stu Forster/Getty Images Gloucester’s home ground was voted as the most intimidating place in the Premiership in a 2010 survey by Rugby World magazine. Its famous terrace, known as The Shed, has produced many a withering remark aimed at opposition players down the years.

One man who has sampled both sides of The Shed’s unique place in rugby folklore is Gloucester second row James Hudson, who joined the Cherry and Whites from West Country rivals Bath. Hudson told the Gloucester Citizen : During my first handful of games for Bath I remember going to Kingsholm in a game we won. I had never played in anything close to that, it was a massive, passionate atmosphere. I remember warming up right in front of the Shed and but it was just brilliant and added to the energy. It was hugely intimidating and one of the best things about being here now is you have The Shed cheering for you and not against you. 5. Croke Park David Rogers/Getty Images When Lansdowne Road was being rebuilt into what is now the Aviva Stadium, Ireland decamped to the 80,000-seat Gaelic Games stadium Croke Park. Rising up from the terraced streets of North Dublin, Croke Park echoes with the history of the troubles. It was the scene of a tragedy in 1920, when British forces opened fire on players and spectators during a Gaelic football match, killing 14 people including Tipperary player Michael Hogan.

Until 2007 the GAA had never allowed "foreign" sports to be played there. That changed with the arrival of the rugby side, who played England there that year. The fixture inevitably revived memories of the strained political relations between the two countries given what had happened at the ground decades before, and the atmosphere before the game was febrile. Protests before the game were made in attempts to prevent God Save the Queen to be played before the game. The anthem went ahead, but it was clear from the first whistle that Ireland, on this of all days, would not give England in inch. A 43-13 battering ensued. Ireland’s move to the Aviva two years later seemed counter-intuitive following that short spell at Croker, a far bigger ground with such a special place in Irish sporting and social history. Should the IRFU decide to bid for a future Rugby World Cup, Croke Park simply has to be on the list of venues. Tweet In professional sport, teams who rise quickly on the back of an injection of new money can often struggle to create a genuine sense of identity and atmosphere. Such qualities are forged over years, decades even. Toulon’s rise, therefore, is unique.

Splashing around in the second tier of French rugby until around 2005, the millions of owner Mourad Boudjellal has propelled them to Heineken Cup glory in a short space of time. But it has also been accompanied by the kind of raw-boned fervor at their home ground you would expect from a club who had been top of the pile for much longer. The Stade Felix Mayol, nestled down on the French Riviera, is a place of manic, passionate support. From the pre-game war cry of “Pilou! Pilou!” to the hailstorm of torn up newspaper following the team’s opening try, the star-studded squad of Toulon enjoys one of the most raucous home-ground atmospheres anywhere in Europe. Tweet The home of Munster has undergone a major transformation with the low-profile pitch-side terracing replaced by giant, arcing all-seater stands, but it has lost none of its atmosphere in the process. Before its remodel it was the scene of the famous miracle match against Gloucester in the Heineken Cup, and before that it was where Munster beat the All Blacks in 1978.

The crowd played a huge part that day, as prop Gerry McLoughlin remembers in Alan English’s brilliant book Stand Up and Fight: When Munster Beat the All Blacks: “One hundred thousand people say they were at Thomond Park that day. Ninety thousand of them are liars.” And in 2009 , after the ground was reopened, Paul Rees of the Guardian previewed a decisive Heineken Cup visit there by Sale Sharks: Sale faced Munster at Thomond Park in the final group match three years ago. They arrived as the pool leaders but left knocked out of the tournament after being blown away by a combination of the fervour generated by the crowd and the ferocity of Munster from the first minute to the last. "There seems to be a perception that Thomond Park is not as intimidating for visiting sides as it was, but I do not go along with that," said [Munster hooker] Jerry Flannery. "It houses a greater number of spectators now and that means more noise. The All Blacks left here last November saying they had never experienced an atmosphere like it and Sale should know what they face." 2.

Ellis Park Themba Hadebe As New Zealand went in search of a perfect 2013, mid-way through the year they faced the toughest test of their invincibility when they travelled to South Africa for the deciding rubber in the Rugby Championship. With the silverware riding on the game, the Springboks decided to relocate the fixture from the gleaming new stadium in Soweto to their favoured Ellis Park. They knew what they were doing. Former All Blacks scrum half Justin Marshall told Fairfax NZ News : It's notable the Springboks have scheduled their rematch against the All Blacks for Ellis Park - the most intimidating rugby ground I've ever played at. The Ellis Park factor could be huge in the competition finale. It's interesting they've taken the fixture from Soweto, which generates more revenue, to a smaller stadium where they've had success against the All Blacks. That says to me they're driven by results this year. Even the drive to Ellis Park on the bus is daunting, where often supporters push the bus, and certainly make it very clear you're in enemy territory. On the field it's an atmosphere like no other - hostile and very passionate.

No coincidence that the Springboks play better there than at any ground in the country. They're different beasts when they run on to Ellis Park. Something in them stirs. New Zealand did win that day, and it was the first time they had done so at Ellis Park since 1997. Tweet At the time of writing, Clermont Auvergne have won 76 matches at their Massif Central home. It has almost reached the point where visiting teams are resigned to their fate before they set foot off the bus. It can only hold just over 18,000 souls, yet it’s banked stands somehow encase the racket made by the garish yellow-clad supporters to make it feel as though there are 70,000 bearing down on the playing surface. The Telegraph’s Alasdair Reid described the scene this season after a yellow card for No.

8 Fritz Lee, with the score against Toulon locked at 16-16, looked to have condemned their winning run to the record books: Over the next few minutes the noise levels grew and grew, far louder even than in the opening quarter when they had raced into a 13-0 lead, to a crescendo of urgency and exhortation. “Tous ensemble. Tous ensemble. Allez ASM.” When the going gets tough, no crowd gets going like this one. By the time Lee returned, Clermont were coasting. In his absence, they had taken the game by the scruff of the neck, Morgan Parra had clipped over a penalty and the will and the colour seemed to have drained from Toulon. In the final minute, Parra kicked another penalty for a 22-16 victory. It was Clermont’s 74th home win on the trot. Carisbrook Stadium Dunedin Rugby Venue Information Carisbrook Stadium Venue Guide Carisbrook Stadium Dunedin Rugby Developed during the 1870s, Carisbrook is Dunedin's main domestic and international Rugby Union venue and is the home of the Otago Highlanders Super 15 team.

Games originally scheduled to be played at Carisbrook stadium, have now been scheduled for the new Otago Stadium , currently completing construction. The new stadium will be New Zealand�s largest indoor arena and only covered natural turf stadium. It will have capacity for over 30,000 fans. See new Otago Stadium for more details. Carisbrook Stadium is approximately 3 kilometres southwest of Dunedin's city centre and is an easy 40 minute walk. Please note: Venue information can change at any time - please check with the actual Venue if there is anything that you would like to make sure of. How to get there Walking From the Octagon in central Dunedin to Carisbrook stadium is an easy 40-minute walk along Princes Street. Public Transport Charter and shuttle bus services operate for all international Rugby fixtures. Shuttle buses operate a circular route from Dunedin's north end (University area), through the Octagon at the heart of Dunedin, to Carisbrook and back. Car The Octagon to Carisbrook is a short 10-minute drive. Streets around Carisbrook are closed prior to international Rugby fixtures to manage coach and pedestrian traffic so parking is restricted.

More information about getting to this venue is available here . Parking Restricted parking, public transportation is recommended. Accommodation Find a good range of accommodation near Carisbrook Stadium , or in Dunedin . Or search for nationwide accommodation here . General Information Search the List | Carisbrook | Heritage New Zealand Historical Narrative Origins of Carisbrook In 1874 the Carisbrook Cricket Club was the first user of the ground that would become known as Carisbrook. Cricket had been played in Dunedin through the 1860s, but gained momentum with the industrialisation of the 1870s and 1880s built on the wealth of the goldfields, and by the 1880s there were 60 teams. The rapid urban expansion brought with it the problem of suitable flat ground for cricket pitches. A survey dated November 1876 shows the proposed layout of what was called the Township of Caversham East. There are houses indicated on the lower slopes of the surrounding hills, and the railway alignment sweeps around the base of the hills. The flat land is marked by a close knit grid of residential sections, although no houses are recorded in these sections.

The most notable built feature on the survey is the presence of the 'government workshops' on Hillside Road, the railway workshops which are a defining industry for Caversham and South Dunedin. Rugby historian Sean O'Hagan records that Carisbrook was originally part of the Presbyterian Church's holdings purchased in 1848. The Presbyterian Church Board of Property leased out the area 'to anyone who had need of a patch of swamp with a creek running through it.' As the major urban areas developed, so too did the need for venues for organised sporting occasions. The Oval and the Caledonian Ground were early sports venues in Dunedin. Wellington's Basin Reserve was established in 1866 (registered as Basin Reserve Historic Area record number 7441, including the separately registered Basin Reserve Pavilion, Category II record number 1339), and provided a venue for most of Wellington's significant sporting fixtures. In Christchurch Lancaster Park (now AMI Stadium) was established by the Canterbury Cricket and Athletics Sports Co Ltd.

in 1880, providing a multipurpose venue which saw cricket, football, athletics, trotting and swimming events take place in its first twenty years, setting a pattern of diverse use which has continued into the twenty-first century. Athletic Park was home of Wellington rugby from 1896 until its closure in 1999. New Zealand's largest stadium, Auckland's Eden Park, was founded in 1914. Like Carisbrook, it started as a swamp, but by 1914 the ground was drained and turned into two ovals. The Auckland Rugby Union leased the Park in 1914, officially making Eden Park its home in 1925. The Carisbrook Ground Company (1880-1889) The Carisbrook Ground Company was formed in 1880 by the Carisbrook Cricket Club, as the body to administer the ground. With the agreement of the Presbyterian Church, they had laid off part of the area for cricket. The new Company intended to drain and fence a suitable area and then build a pavilion.

The swamp was duly drained, with a windmill pump erected, and as the water subsided, logs appeared and had to be removed. There was fairly constant wrangling between the Otago Cricket Association and the Carisbrook Ground Company over gate returns and terms of the lease, made worse by the conflict of interest of members on both bodies. A 'small pavilion was built on the curve of the ground' where later the Rose Stand would be constructed, and a ‘grandstand' (a timber framed, corrugated iron shelter) was also built on what was later the terrace side. The cricket club, however, did not have the ground to itself; rugby would also become a prominent user. Rugby in Dunedin had its origins in the enthusiasm of men like University of Otago Professor of Classics George Sale (educated at Rugby School in the mid-nineteenth century when the game that came to be known as rugby originated) and George Thomson (a rugby enthusiast). Rugby's English identity was based in an upper middle class English ethos based on ‘gentlemanliness, leisure, loyalty and decency' with a strong amateur code.

Sale and Thomson were based in Dunedin by the 1870s and were involved in organising early games, like that between Otago Boys' High School and Otago University in September 1871. The Dunedin Football Club was formed in 1872, with Thomson prominent among the members, and Sale elected president, the first of the Dunedin clubs. By the close of the 1870s rugby was established as a significant New Zealand sporting code, with the provincial nature of the sport an important element of its character. O'Hagan writes: New Zealand has no Twickenham, each province has its own central arena and none would dare claim to be the New Zealand ground. These grounds are the scene of the great inter-provincial rugby battles. The Otago Rugby Football Union (ORFU) was formed in 1881 (the third provincial union to be formed), at a meeting at Wains Hotel where 96 exponents of the game, representing a number of clubs, elected officers of the Union, with J.P. Maitland the first president.

The new organisation facilitated the development of rugby, and by 1886 there were 24 clubs with 1,500 members. The Union was based at Tahuna Park, which was the Agricultural and Pastoral Society's ground, and also used the Caledonian Society's Caledonian Ground. The Union desired a ground of its own that it could develop along with the Otago Cricket Association. The Carisbrook Ground Company found the 200 guinea lease a bit steep and in 1886 invited the Pirates Football Club to use the ground and pay a share of the rent. The first major sporting event at Carisbrook, preceded by the fire brigade pumping water from the ground before the game, was a cricket match between Otago and Tasmania in 1884 (Otago won by eight wickets in heavy conditions). Eventually, the ground saw some of the world's top cricketers and became a venue of some renown. The ORFU was apparently against playing big games at Carisbrook, as the return at the gate at the Caledonian Ground was greater as it had a proper grandstand.

Carisbrook was first used as a major rugby venue in 1886, when the visiting New South Wales team played Otago. The benefits of the rising hills surrounding the ground immediately evident: The day was not a very suitable one either for players or spectators, but nevertheless a good crowd watched the game from the terraces around the field of play, while nearly 1000 of those, who from motives of economy - or, as footballers term it, meanness - did not choose to pay for admission, watched the proceedings from the hill overlooking the ground. It is, we believe, the intention of the Carisbrook Ground Company to erect a screen which will eventually shut out the view from this point of vantage. In 1886 men paid 6d to get into the ground, an extra 6d for a grandstand seat, while ladies were admitted free, with the hope that they would keep the male spectators on their best behaviour : Everywhere ladies were admitted free to both grounds and stands, and, while this is a nice compliment to pay to the sex, it is from the business point of view of the Union [New Zealand Rugby Football Union] very much more than a compliment.

It is one of those seemingly trifling details that are really important factors in establishing the success of the football of a country....It may not always be realized how powerful is the influence of womankind in a game like this. If the ladies are encouraged to take a keen interest in the game, to understand it thoroughly and to follow the doings of the clubs and players with enthusiasm, their favourable attitude affects the game in several ways. Women were not charged admission until 1928. Even with the additional income the lease was too much of a burden, and in 1889 the Carisbrook Ground Company was liquidated, and the lease passed onto the newly formed Dunedin Amateur Ground Company in 1889. Dunedin Amateur Ground Company (1889-1907) Money remained a problem for the new owners, and fundraising continued with benefit matches, tugs of war, pony races and the like. In desperation the Dunedin Amateur Ground Company installed a totalizator at the ground in conjunction with trotting races, only to be called to task by the Presbyterian Church, who lowered the rent on the condition that the totalizator be removed.

In 1900 the Dunedin Amateur Ground Company approached the ORFU with a request for assistance with the £200 required to draining the ground. Carisbrook showed its swamp origins regularly, and the ground was known as ‘Lake Carisbrook', and encouraged the development of Otago's ability to play ‘aquatic rugby.' At a special meeting the ORFU agreed ‘to take up shares in the company, on the condition that the ORFU have the option of leasing the ground year by year for a term of five years at a rental not exceeding 75 pounds.' The Ground Company gave into financial realities in 1906 and offered their interest in Carisbrook to the ORFU for £750. In 1907 the Dunedin Amateur Ground Company was voluntarily wound up and its interests and assets were transferred to the ORFU.

The Annual General Meeting of the ORFU reported that although there had been ‘considerable expense in order to make the ground a really good one' that the funds had been well applied, and that the ground ‘will in a few years be an ideal one from every point of view.' Otago Rugby Football Union (1907-early 1950s) Immediately upon acquiring Carisbrook the ORFU set about developing the ground: £756 was spent on acquiring the lease; £634 on buildings and fencing; £495 on filling in and fertilising the ground, and £90 on a groundsman's salary. Close to £2,200 was spent, over half the ORFU's total expenditure for the year. After the purchase of the lease by the ORFU, the Carisbrook Cricket Club was gradually pushed out the ground, and slowly declined in importance, although Carisbrook continued to be used for first class and test cricket throughout the twentieth century.

The ORFU's takeover of the ground roughly coincided with elevation of rugby to a ‘national ethos', taking an ‘imported game' and synthesising it into ‘an important component of New Zealand's national identity' in the wake of The Original's successful tour of Great Britain in 1905. The first major rugby game after the purchase of the lease by the ORFU was the Anglo-Welsh Game against Otago in 1908. There was concern about the condition of the grounds and the grandstand, but repairs were limited by financial realities. After an acrimonious debate with the national union about appropriate gate fees for the test match (and some local initiative from carpenters from the Hillside workshops who removed a portion of the perimeter fence), the game took place. By 1914, the ORFU had demolished the original grandstand at Carisbrook and commenced construction on a replacement grandstand. The new grandstand was partly financed through the issue of debentures, but when it was completed later that year, ORFU was left with a debt. Despite these difficulties, at the close of World War I the ORFU offered free entry to games for returning soldiers.

In the 1920s there were further developments to Carisbrook. In 1921 additions were made to the grandstand. In 1926 a Turnstile Building was erected on Neville Street, probably designed by Dunedin architects Miller and White, who completed other work for the ORFU. The Main Grandstand was extended in 1927 to a design by Miller and White. In 1937 the Henry Rose Stand was built next to the 1914 grandstand to increase seating capacity at Carisbrook and it was funded from the money made in the pre-war, Ranfurly Shield days. The grounds, however, remained relatively undeveloped in the early years of the ORFU's ownership, with groundsman Alex Ross recalling that ‘had the weeds been removed there would have been nothing left', and the very real problem of how to manage drainage at the ground remained unresolved. The weeds took Ross 12 years to eradicate, but the problems with water on the pitch were to continue for much longer. It was not until the closing years of the 1940s that the turf would be lifted and relaid and new drainage work put in place.

In addition to the drainage issues, Dunedin's weather added to the infamy of the ground. At a December club cricket game the stumps were still standing in a pool on the following day; a big snowfall in 1939 saw the ground buried beneath 9 inches of snow, with drifts 6 feet deep behind the grandstand; and during one north-easterly rain storm sheets of water were blown into the stand, with part of the stand collapsing under the load. Instead of repairing the grandstand, the ORFU built a new wing (sections A, B, and C). Carisbrook showed its swamp origins regularly, and the ground was known as ‘Lake Carisbrook', and encouraged the development of Otago's ability to play ‘aquatic rugby.' Otago Rugby Football Union (Early 1950s-Late 1960s) Carisbrook was used for a range of community activities such as rugby, cricket, hockey, athletics, lawn tennis, soccer, marching and band displays of championship standard.

On Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's visit to Dunedin in January 1954 displays were held at Carisbrook, including long jumper Yvette Williams' attempt on the world long jump record. The association with rugby was well established. The ORFU had adopted a scheme of using subscription money to improve the grounds, and had big plans for the future. There was a difficult balance to maintain the ground as a venue suitable for both cricket and rugby, but the ground drew praise from those who played there: Australian Hugh Trumble said that ‘the Carisbrook ground and wicket were fit for any cricketer in the world to step on' and sent groundsman Alex Ross a congratulatory letter. During one tour by an English side the New Zealand Cricket Council judged Carisbrook as the best kept ground on which the English team had played. In the mid 1950s the ORFU embarked on a programme of development. The work was designed to keep Carisbrook at the standard required for it to continue as a regular test match ground. While cricket still had a base there, the ground was becoming more and more rugby focused.

Plans were made to replace the rail fence around the ground with a concrete wall, to join the Henry Rose Stand with the main grandstand, and to shift the main grandstand back to the Burns Street level. Accommodation for players, officials and spectators was also to be improved and there were also ideas of extending and covering the Terraces. However, the plans for altering the stands were estimated to cost some £20,000 and shortage of materials delayed developments for several years. In 1959 a 4,000 seat open stand, known as the Neville Street Stand, was built on the south side of the grounds. In 1964 the Terraces were extended, and in 1965 a further 4,000 seat covered stand was opened, giving the ground a capacity of 45,000. Temporary seating was still to be expanded, and ramps to be installed to make it easier for spectators to access the stands. In the mid 1960s the ORFU also reduced the size of the wicket area, leaving enough only to accommodate representative games, and by the late 1960s the Carisbrook Cricket Club relocated to Andersons Bay.

Throughout the 1990s International test cricket and first class matches were played on Carisbrook, and it remains a significant venue. In 2008 the State Championship game between Otago and Canterbury was played at Carisbrook. Otago Rugby Football Union (Late 1960s-1980s) In 1969 the ORFU purchased the freehold of the Carisbrook Ground. By this period, Carisbrook was considered a significant venue, recalling memories of important events and sporting moments, these included cricketing records (including a world record 445 runs in 1936-37), exhibition tennis matches featuring world ranked players, and the 1936 national track and field championships). The Otago Daily Times recorded that: Carisbrook is steeped in tradition now, and practically every amateur sport has been featured on the ground at some time or other. In 1976 engineers E.R. Garden and Partners released the plans for a stand designed to replace the existing main grandstand. A condition of the tender was that construction be completed prior to May the following year in time for the touring British Lions.

While shorter than the existing stand, the new grandstand structure added 1,400 seats. Facilities for players and officials, and provision for a press box under the roof, and a television camera stand on the roof were also included. In the late 1970s there were further developments. The Terraces were reshaped to allow seating (rather than standing space only), and a new entrance was built. Although other changes were proposed, funding remained dependent on whether Otago Cricket planned to develop its Carisbrook facilities or relocate to Logan Park, with facilities developed at the University Oval to provide a focal area for the development of Otago Cricket. Around this period there was debate about the future of both rugby and cricket with a concern about dropping attendances. Sports broadcaster Iain Gallaway told a meeting of sports administrators that: Carisbrook at the moment is a depressing and moribund ground, and a coat of paint will not change that. People seem to come to the ground with an apologetic look about them. In the past, when three or more cricket games were played on the ground a week, people became familiar with the ground and its atmosphere.

John Henderson, chair of the Otago Cricket Association indicated that the trend in cricket was towards smaller, more intimate grounds, like Logan Park and Molyneux Park in Alexandra. He also believed that television had reduced the attendance at games, and that the pressure for more games was difficult to meet in a world where sport competed with work demands. The debate about the future of the ground spread to the newspapers, linking the Ground with the fortunes of the Otago rugby team. The editor of the Otago Daily Times reported: Irrational it may be, but the fact is that a province's morale is, to some degree, bound up with the success of its representatives, and rugby will long remain a major criterion in this country. It can be equally held that the grounds where these major sports are played also become a symbol for their communities. Eden Park, the Basin Reserve and Athletic Park, Lancaster Park, Western Springs... these names have become household words and people are acutely conscious of their reputation. Our own Carisbrook has shared in that reputation for many decades, a fitting tribute to the one man, Henry Rose, whose vision it initially was. There was a period in recent years when Carisbrook's standing began to slip.

Facilities remained backward, the ground became rather shabby, club cricket vanished from it, and even representative cricket began to follow suit. We were no longer able to drive past with a sense of pride and reminiscences of great days there. He praised the ORFU's efforts in improving the Ground, and continued ‘Carisbrook means so much to Dunedin that it is important the rugby union be backed up by the community....One wonders, too, whether a touch of architectural elegance might not do Carisbrook a great deal of good....Carisbrook's role deserves it.' Much has been made about rugby's role in New Zealand's national identity. Internationally there is considerable commentary on the role of rugby's centrality to nationhood in a number of countries. John Harris has argued that players become ‘symbols - metonyms of cultural ideas - particularly in a sport deemed so important to the nation.' In New Zealand writing around rugby and identity has centred on the making of nationhood, rural identity, and ideas of masculinity.

Recent scholarship, while recognising ‘the vital importance of rugby to New Zealand society' and recognising the need to include sport in discussions of New Zealand history, have revealed the discontinuities of rugby history and the ‘frequent instances of marginalisation in the realms of class, gender, race and religion.' In a similar way it could be argued that venues could also be symbols of the culture associated with rugby, with the matches played, the historic losses and victories, becoming part of the fabric of the place, becoming part of its identity. A postmodern analysis would have it that any meaning is ‘negotiated or contested' and that there are a number of narratives associated with the place, which reflect changing identities and the globalisation of sport. In common with Wales, ‘promoting national identity through sport is generally regarded as especially important to nations that are subservient to a dominant nation', for international fixtures played at Carisbrook, New Zealand's rugby ability is out of scale to its size and population. On a national basis, the representation of Carisbrook as the face of Otago rugby up against the larger more populace provinces also rings true.

The ORFU records that Carisbrook: is as much a part of Dunedin and Otago's past and present - and its future - as the statue of Robbie Burns in the Octagon or of Larnach's Castle on the Peninsula. It is central to the atmosphere and ambience of the city of Dunedin and holds a place that takes its status beyond that of just a sportsground, however famous in sporting history....It is the place where hopes are realised and where the dreams of opponents go to die, it is a stage on which has been enacted all the elements of drama, and a stage for the big matches that envelop all of the city and province. Otago Rugby Football Union (1990s) Like other significant grounds, Carisbrook has been reshaped and altered reflecting the changing nature of sport in New Zealand. During the 1990s, Carisbrook was substantially redeveloped into a ‘multi-functional entertainment stadium' and most of the stands were replaced. In 1991 Mayor Richard Walls, launched an appeal for $2.75 million to redevelop Carisbrook.

When the appeal was announced the Mayor recalled the importance of the ground: Our province's proud rugby and cricket history is linked to Carisbrook and from a regional perspective it has long been Otago's premier venue for these sporting codes....[F]or many New Zealanders Carisbrook was the window through which the camera let them look in on Dunedin and Otago. The redevelopment of Carisbrook took place over the next seven years. In 1991-1992 over $2.5 million was spent on the main stand. In the following two years nearly $4.5 million was spent on the development of corporate suites behind the Terrace. The new stand, located on the Murrayfield Street side of the grounds, was named the ‘Railway Stand' and was officially opened in June 1998. It included associated modern facilities for spectators and officials. In addition to the new stand, work was also completed on the perimeter fence, turnstile and entry. A 1994 report by consultants MWH recommended further upgrading at Carisbrook.

In that year a $4 million hospitality and sporting complex was built on the terraces, with 20 hospitality suites, lounge and bar facilities, indoor cricket wickets, a gymnasium, as well as food and toilet facilities. In addition, that same year a $750,000 open stand, known as the Hillside Stand', was built at the Hillside Workshop end of the Carisbrook Terrace. Shortly after this stage of the redevelopment was completed, the playing field of provincial and international rugby changed.

In June 1995, a ‘southern hemisphere consortium' (made up of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand) signed a commercial deal with News Limited, requiring the parties to provide two products: the Super 12 (five regional teams in New Zealand, four from South Africa and three from Australia), and the Tri Nations series, which opened the doors for professionalism in rugby union, and where the game was marketed as a ‘spectacular experience that combined brute force with finesse and athleticism.' Part of the professionalism was the branding and commercialisation of rugby, where now players and grounds took on a new image (with the associated ‘Highlanders') and Carisbrook, as ‘The House of Pain', became synonymous with rugby in the province. In October 1997, a part of the redevelopment project, the remains of the existing Terrace was demolished. It was rebuilt as a modern terrace, raising it and improving associated facilities. The Terraces had had a special part in the history of Carisbrook.

In 1997 Colin Weatherall, an official from the ORFU commented that ‘[t]here's no question they give the feel, the smell and the touch to the Terrace...The whole environment, from my point of view, comes from the students.' Weatherall explained the importance of the Terraces to the Ground: The Terrace [sic] are an important part of the Carisbrook heritage and we were very careful with the re-development plan to maintain that heritage.' The Otago Daily Times writer continued the theme: ‘Call it the Terrace, the embankment, student city or scarfie-land - but whatever name it goes by, it is the place that students call ‘home'. The loss of the old Terrace was therefore mourned. Bill Milburn, for instance, lamented ‘it will always be the rough concrete ledges, covered with gravely cinders and Jimmy Speights bottle tops that I remember with affection....I will never forget the days when the Terrace would erupt in unbiased applause for each and every exhibition of skill and courage - those were the days when Terrace pride was only exceeded by true sportsmanship.' In 1998 $7 million was spent completing the redevelopment of the Ground.

The announcement of the completion referred to the history of the Carisbrook: ‘the people of Dunedin and Otago can look forward to the future of Carisbrook with the same proud confidence with which they view its past.' Otago Rugby Football Union (2000s) As an international site there is recognition of Carisbrook's importance, even if in a backhanded kind of way. In 2000 the Sydney Morning Herald included Carisbrook along with the Beehive and Auckland Harbour Bridge as one of 11 spots in Australia, Asia and New Zealand that ‘straddle the line between eyesore and landmark.' Author of the list Alex Buzo indicated the inclusion was ‘something to do with the pain Australian rugby teams had felt there at the hands of the All Blacks', but that the stadium was ‘not very nice at all' and was called the ‘House of Pain' because ‘visiting teams lost often and horribly there.' In fact, the name derives from Otago players ruefully reflecting on the ‘pain' they underwent at training.

The last vestige of the ‘free to view' ‘Scotsmans Stand' (the good view of the game from the railway embankment behind the ground) was filled in in 2001. Although largely blocked by the construction of the Railway Stand, the construction of corporate suites finally denied the ‘hundreds of fans' the long-standing tradition of perusing the game from outside the ground. In 2003 concerns about the future of Carisbrook emerged once again. ORFU chief executive John Hornbrook saw further development of the Ground as vital if Carisbrook was to hold its position as one of the top four test venues in New Zealand. He felt that that position was threatened by smaller grounds such as those in Waikato and at North Harbour. New Zealand Rugby Union deputy chief executive Steve Tew considered that it was falling behind the ‘minimum standards' for spectator, player and media facilities.' The unique atmosphere of Carisbrook had its defenders however. Former Wales captain and prominent British rugby writer Eddie Butler argued for its survival: Should I really be promoting the survival of Carisbrook? There is nothing the outside world should like to see more than its closure.

Everyone knows that this is where the All Blacks lose only when the sun glows green. But, hell, we need these special places, where opponents tread with trepidation. Carisbrook fits the bill: the New Zealand stadium with the most vibrant atmosphere, and the best bounce of sound from crowd to field via roof - develop it by all means but please don't make it look like any other refurbished ground. Hopefully the new architecture will reflect its old position, both in Dunedin and the folklore of the New Zealand game. Superlatives aside there is a certain accuracy in Butler's perception of the ground and its place in popular culture. Butler goes on: It is a primeval rugby ground, an untidy pile of girders and concrete blocks on the edge of town, surrounded by a highway, railway tracks, coal yards, car repair shops and second-hand dealerships. It is cold and old, cramped and damp. They do not serve prawn sandwiches here; they sell meat pies, low on temperature, high on gristle. It is the perfect place to launch an All Black revival. To know how difficult it is to play rugby in New Zealand, you have to come here.

You can watch from afar and wonder why it is that the All Blacks rarely lose here - only three out of 33 Tests and just once in the past 30 years - but to find the answer you have to breathe Dunedin. You have to be uncomfortable in Carisbrook. You have to be cold in Otago. This is the end of the world. This is where New Zealand rugby has its soul. The editor of the Otago Daily Times continued the theme: Carisbrook shines as a symbol of Dunedin. Next to the university, it is hard to imagine any other Dunedin place or institution as widely identified around the world. Should it stagnate as an ageing relic, a Dunedin beacon will be dulled and a regional emblem tarnished. A source of pride will be devalued and a great community gathering place diminished. While an English cricket writer in the 1980s, who must have been gazing at the iron sheds of Hillside in a bleak and bitter southerly, was unfair to liken the ground to industrial Poland, Carisbrook is hardly shiny and slick.

That, however, in moderation can be part of the charm because the place oozes the very character missing in mod-con, purpose-built stadiums. The terraces are indispensable and even the weary-looking Neville St and Rose stands will do for now. He goes onto discuss appropriate future development options which retain the atmosphere of the place, and finishes by calling for a province-wide effort to find a way to ‘secure Carisbrook's place as one of the world's leading rugby grounds.' In August 2006 The Carisbrook Stadium Trust was formed with a mandate to ‘investigate options of re-developing the existing Carisbrook Stadium and feasibility of a new Stadium.' In 2006 the Trust recommended a new multi-purpose stadium in association with the University located adjacent to Logan Park. The passionate debate about the future of Carisbrook continues, reflecting not only the modern economics of professional sport, but the pivotal role Carisbrook has played in the history of sport in Dunedin, Otago and New Zealand as a whole.

In March 2008 the Dunedin City Council decided to proceed with plans to develop plans for new purpose-built covered stadium on a new site, and the future of Carisbrook now rests on the decisions made in relation to the new stadium. Physical Description General Location: Carisbrook stands on the western edge of South Dunedin between the suburbs of Clyde Hill to the north, Kensington to the north east, Caversham to the south west and South Dunedin to the south. It almost occupies a whole city block, apart from the corner of Neville and Murrayfield Streets. The site on which Carisbrook stands has five sides but is bordered by only three streets: Burns, Neville and Murrayfield Streets. The two longest sides meet at a point almost due south which is the intersection of Burns (running from south east to north west) and Neville (running south west to north east) Streets. The boundary of the ground continues with the three remaining sides (which are far shorter) occupying the north end of Carisbrook. It was once entirely bordered by Murrayfield Street which leads off both Burns and Neville Streets but no longer meets in the middle due to the expansion of the ground.

Description of Site: Carisbrook lies on the edge of the flat that makes up South Dunedin, nestled into the mouth of a valley running north between the steep slopes of Clyde Hill and the Kensington promontory. To the west stands Carlton Hill. The influence that these steep hills have on the ground is further accentuated by its close proximity to an elevated railway causeway just on its northern boundary which bridges the gap between the Kensington promontory and the Caversham Valley. The earth causeway rises sharply from the northern edge of Carisbrook to a height equivalent to that of the roofs of the grandstands backing onto it. The sense of enclosure is furthered by the neighbouring industrial area on the opposite side of Neville Street, especially the huge Hillside Railway Workshops buildings. It is only at the southern sides of Carisbrook where Burns and Neville Streets approach their juncture that the prospect from the ground is open to St Kilda and St Clair in the distance. On this side the ground is bordered with predominantly single-storied houses on narrow sections. The site has structures built right up to the boundary and/or street frontage apart from two access points into the site. As with important sports stadiums the site has a very introspective focus.

The boundary is either enclosed by timber, brick or corrugated iron fencing and/or three to five storeyed structures. Many of the stands are jut out over the surrounding streets: the Hillside Stand and the Neville Street Stand over Neville Street, the Main Stand (and ORFU offices within it) over Burns Street and the Railway Stand over the dead end of Murrayfield Street. External Appearance: The street elevations of Carisbrook show a piecemeal approach to the ongoing development of the facilities. Apart from the Corporate Suites building backing the Terraces (and fronting Murrayfield Street) the treatment of the street frontages of the Carisbrook stands are utilitarian and there is very little effort placed on aesthetic treatment apart from the colour schemes. Although modest, much more effort is placed on the treatment of individual grandstand facades seen facing the playing field. This utilitarian approach is not representative of an international style to grandstand design but perhaps to local conditions. The Murrayfield Street façade of the Corporate Suites Building built in the 1990s is representative of a move toward a more outwardly expressive approach in grandstand construction as seen in the design of new stadiums or existing stadium re-development in New Zealand and overseas.

The grandstands face into and completely enclose the Carisbrook pitch, which has always provided the focus for the venue. The majority of the built structures were completed during the redevelopment of the site in the 1990s and the stands are not included in the registration. The main stand (1992) is located on the western side of Carisbrook. Moving clockwise from the main stand, there is the Rose Stand (1965) on the corner of Burns and Murrayfield Streets, the Railway Stand (1998) on the northern side near Murrayfield Street and the railway line, then the Terraces (1997) on the eastern side, the Hillside Stand on the south east and finally the Neville Street Stand (1959) on the south side. Further information on the stands is provided below. Structures included in the registration: Turnstile Building and the Pitch. The Turnstile Building (1926): The small single-storey brick Turnstile Building is located on the Neville Street boundary of Carisbrook, below the Neville Street Stand. It is likely to be the oldest structure remaining on the Carisbrook site.

This unpainted double red brick building has parapets and a very shallow mono pitch roof constructed of concrete. The length of the building, which has seven ticket turnstiles doorways, runs along Neville Street. Much of this, five of the seven turnstiles, is overhung by the Neville Street Stand which it pre-dates. The Neville Street elevation has the sign 'Adults' painted black on white over six of the ticket turnstile doorways and one painted children. This elevation is characterised by the very narrow doorways to allow the admittance of one person at a time - thereby controlling spectator flow. The door lintels are formed by seven vertical bricks and the parapet is constructed of poured concrete. There is a painted sign - black on white - 'Terrace' which applied to the brickwork and concrete parapet over the central three turnstile doorways. The turnstile doors on this elevation are constructed of T&G painted powder blue and each door is sliding, with a rail mounted on the inside of the doorway. The interior of each turnstile kiosk is unlined with the brickwork painted white.

The turnstiles are made of tube metal and these have now been removed from each kiosk and lie under the Neville Street Stand. The Pitch: The grandstands face into and completely enclose the grassed Carisbrook pitch that provides the focus for the venue. Other Structures at Carisbrook: The Main Stand and ORFU Offices (Burns Street) (1992): This is, as the name suggests the principal grandstand for the ground. Apart from providing seating for spectators it serves a number of other functions which are reflected in its external appearance: it houses ORFU offices, changing rooms, press and corporate boxes. The Grandstand structure is divided into two distinct parts. The foundations supporting structure for and including the tiering for the grandstand is constructed of reinforced concrete. Above the level of the tiered seating is a steel post and beam structure which provides the framing for the profile steel external cladding and glazing to the rear wall of the grandstand. The roof structure for the Grandstand is supported by the rear wall structure, one row of steel posts along the length of the grandstand positioned half way down the seating, and steel lattice-girder units on top.

The southern end of the Main Stand turns to follow the contour of the playing field. Rose Stand (1965): Abutting the Main Stand to the north is the Rose Stand. These two stands are connected at roof and upper floor level, but are divided at the level of the seating to ground level by an open corridor between the playing field and the rear of the stands. The Rose Stand is elevated on a concrete plinth and so unlike some of the other stands the seating does not extend down to ground level. The Rose Stand is in floor plan is elbow-shaped to allow the stand to follow the contour of the playing field. The stand has two distinct halves. The half adjoining the Main Stand has a lower roof and subsequently smaller number of rows of seating. The other half is announced with a step up in the roof line and a step back in the rear wall. Rose Stand has glazed panelling and profile steel sheeting enclosing the stand behind the seating and the upper section seating on the exposed north end of the stand The rear of the stand is open and the underside of the concrete tiers is exposed apart from an enclosed catering kiosk and men's and women's toilets and a functions room which extends further back under the stand.

Access to the seating is gained by open staircases which are reached from behind the stand and emerge half way up the seating rows. It is constructed from steel posts and beams with prefabricated concrete risers and flat sections assembled to form the tiers supported on 'I' Beams. In the space under the front of the stand formed by elevating the seating there is evidence of the previous Henry Rose Stand (1937). At the rear of the stand are some detached machinery and storage sheds. Here also within the confines of Carisbrook, on the corner of Burns Street and Murrayfield Street, stands a 1960s red brick bungalow with a red clay tile roof, used as a caretakers residence. The Railway Stand (1998): The Railway Stand is separated from the Rose Stand by a drive which allows vehicular access to the playing field. This stand is semi-circular in layout (unlike the more angular Rose, Main and Neville Street Stands) and follows more easily the contours of the playing field. The roof of the Railway Stand covers the upper two thirds of the tiered seating. The seating for the stand continues down to ground level.

This stand also includes Corporate Suites at the rear of the stand at its south west end. The stand is enclosed with glazing at the rear of the stand. Access to the seating is gained by open staircases which are reached from behind the stand and emerge half way up the seating rows. The construction of the Railway stand is a combination of reinforced concrete poured on site and elements prefabricated off-site then assembled. The Terrace Stand (changes post 1997): This stand which covers the entire length of the eastern side of the ground is probably the most significant stand on the ground - although this is not due to its construction but rather the atmosphere created on it. Traditionally this stand was set aside for standing spectators which made it a far more dynamic space. As pressure from other venues around the country grew, Carisbrook was forced to change and this is most clearly seen in the 'improvements' to this side of the ground. The Terrace has been entirely rebuilt.

The loose gravel that once covered the standing areas of each concrete sloping tier of the Terrace have now been replaced by a prefabricated concrete tier structure set onto sloping steel 'I' girders which in turn stand on steel 'I' section posts connected to each other by a network of horizontal and angle steel members. Spectators now gain access to the stand from underneath via six sets of stairs. Unlike the Terrace stand that it replaced the current structure has a far greater number of tiers. Each tier is of a depth suitable for the possibility of each area being put over to seating. This possible development is heralded by gold bucket seating which covers the back third of the new Terrace (Terrace Gold Seating, 2005) for just under two thirds of the stands length. Attached to the back of this section of the Terrace, stands a modern five storeyed building although only three of the storeys are above the back of the stand. This building which backs onto Murrayfield Street houses the Murrayfield Suites, Carisbrook and Otago Lounges and the new Commentary Box. Behind the remaining third of the Terrace is a small bar building and the Hillside Stand.

Hillside Stand (1994): Connected to the back of the Terrace this stand is set in the south east corner of Carisbrook and juts out over the footpath of Neville Street. Essentially it is simply a continuation of the construction found on the Terrace Stand to which it is connected. But its increasing height has meant that it has a far more complex supporting structure of steel posts and horizontal and diagonal braces. Access to the seating of this stand is via the Terrace. This stand is entirely set over to gold plastic bucket seating. At the back of the stand is the electronic scoreboard. At the western end of this stand and the lower Terrace stand is another large open thoroughfare for vehicular and spectator traffic in and out of the ground. Just below and to the west of the stand is a detached red brick Women's Toilet Block. The Neville Street Stand (1959): This stand post dates the Terrace Turnstile Building which it overhangs. Like the other stands at Carisbrook its footprint turns to follows the contour of the playing field at its south-west end.

There are seven seating sections (A-G) and it is in the fifth section (E) that the stand turns to the north-west at almost forty five degrees, cutting the corner off between Neville and Burns Streets and the stand increases in depth and height (in a series of steps). Up until this point the stand following Neville Street is rectangular in shape, but as the structure turns to the north-west the rear wall of the tiered seating is punctuated by four sawteeth. The stand is constructed of steel post beam structure on which concrete joists stand and over which the tiers are constructed of coarse prefabricated concrete pavers on which wooden (painted blue) backless benches are fixed. The back wall of the tiered seating is solid with no glazing although the roof has a continuous strip of roof-lights along its length in this area to provide natural lighting. The roof structure for the stand is supported by the rear wall structure, one row of steel posts along the length of the grandstand positioned half way down the seating, and steel lattice-girder units on top. Glazed panelling encloses the top third of the eastern end of the stand but the other end of the stand joins the Main Stand.

At the rear of the Neville Street Stand on the corner of Neville and Burns Street is detached and uncovered men's red brick toilet block. Urinals: Brick open air urinals are located on the Burns Street/Neville Street corner of Carisbrook. The single storey brick building has no roof, and has open air urinal facilities around the internal walls. Newer toilet facilities are now used.

Construction Dates 'Carisbrook' Dunedin Public Library (DPL) Newspaper Clippings Files (2 Volumes 1950-2007) Hocken Library Hocken Library, University of Otago, Dunedin 'Carisbrook', Reader Access File, Photograph Collection Olssen, 1995 Olssen, Erik, Building the New World: Work, Politics and Society - Caversham 1880s-1920s, Auckland, 1995 Crawford, 1984 Scott Crawford, 'A history of recreation and sport in nineteenth century colonial Otago', A thesis submitted to the Department of Human Movement Studies for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of Queensland, September 1984 Crawford, 1988 Scott Crawford, 'Rugby in Contemporary New Zealand' in Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 1988.

12(2) 108-121 O'Hagan, 1981 Sean O'Hagan, The Pride of Southern Rebels: The History of Otago Rugby on the occasion of the Otago Rugby Football Centenary 1881-1981, Pilgrims South Press, Dunedin, 1981 Ryan, 2004 Greg Ryan, The Making of New Zealand Cricket 1832-1914, Frank Cass, London, 2004 Ryan, 2005 Greg Ryan, Tackling Rugby Myths: Rugby and New Zealand Society: 1854-2004, University of Otago Press, Dunedin, 2005 Tait, 1974 G.

Tait, 'The History of the Otago Cricket Association in the Nineteenth Century' MA Thesis, University of Otago, 1974 Other Information Weather forecast for Carisbrook | Rugby Stadium | New Zealand Cricket: Carisbrook, Dunedin, New Zealand The 7 day weather forecast summary for Carisbrook: The forecast for Carisbrook in the coming week is predicting the average daytime maximum temperature will be around 16°C, with a high for the week of 24°C expected on the afternoon of Thursday 26th. The average minimum temperature will be 9°C, dipping to its lowest on the afternoon of Thursday 19th at 6°C. The coming week will have some days seeing a little precipitation and some days with rain. Predictions are Sunday 19th will have the most precipitation with an accumulation of around 47.0mm. On the whole winds are likely to be strong. The strongest wind will be felt on Sunday evening, coming from a south westerly direction, and reaching around 42mph. However, the maximum wind gusts are forecast for Thursday afternoon.

The day label given represents the local day relative to the local time for the location you are looking at. (More Info) Local Time The wind direction we use on this page is the direction the wind is coming from, given in a 16 point compass format. (More Info) Dir This refers to the sustained average wind speed, normally averaged over a period of 10 minutes for up to 3 hrs. Speed/ Gust Temperature from our forecast perspective are fairly well defined, they are what we would expect to measure in a standard meteorological screen (in other words, shaded and well ventilated) at 2 metres above ground level. Temp/ Feels Like The relative humidity is the percent of saturation humidity, generally calculated in relation to saturated vapour density. (More Info) Humidity The value given is a total predicted for the previous 3 hrs and includes the time of the forecast being looked at. (More Info) Precip Amount The total amount of cloud as a percentage is derived from looking at cloud cover throughout the atmosphere and estimating how these combine when looked at from the ground. (More Info) Cloud Amount Here we try to capture the feel of the weather as an image – it will never be perfect but is useful for a quick overview.

(More Info) Weather When we measure for forecast air pressure we are normally doing this relative to a certain height and most commonly relative to Mean Sea Level. Farewell to Carisbrook, the House of Pain | Stuff.co.nz Farewell to Carisbrook, the House of Pain BY MARC HINTON IN DUNEDIN Last updated 05:00 18/06/2010 Peter Meecham The Press ODT Peter Meecham Southland Times Peter Meecham David Williams Peter Meecham David Williams ODT ODT Southland Times A sign outside the historic Carisbrook ground A critical moment for the Springboks. Near the end of the second spell in the rugby test match at Carisbrook, the South Africans made a brilliant attack and almost scored. B.F. Howe (with ball) had support on his left, but a moment after the photograph was taken he was well tackled in possession by the New Zealand full-back, P.T. Walsh (left.) published 16/07/1956 Dunedin's Carisbrook Park, Dunedin - The house of pain The heat is on in the engine room...

The All Black pack dominated the much vaunted English forwards in the 36-3 win at Carisbrook in Dunedin. 2004. High hopes before the game. Bledisloe Cup rugby match, All Blacks V Australia in the Tri-Nations series game at Carisbrook, Dunedin 2001 A streaker is dragged from the ground by police. The All Blacks lost 30-28 in the New Zealand vs South Africa Rugby Test held at Carisbrook in Dunedin. Out with the old: Carisbrook rugby ground, Dunedin. Crusaders halfback Justin Marshall, right, coforts fellow All Black, Highlanders hooker Anton Oliver after he seriously injured his calf or achillies in the match played at Carisbrook in Dunedin on Saturday. The Crusaders won the match 27-13 Bledisloe Cup, All Blacks Vs Australia, Carisbrook, Dunedin. Jeff Wilson comes in for his try, with Carl Hayman (rear). Out with the old: Carisbrook rugby ground, Dunedin. all black haka at carisbrook.

Bledisloe Cup rugby match, All Blacks V Australia in the Tri-Nations series game at Carisbrook, Dunedin, 2001 Carisbrook rugby grounds in Dunedin All Black half back Justin Marshall is well wrapped by Wallaby flanker George Smith. Bledisloe Cup rugby match, All Blacks V Australia in the Tri-Nations series game at Carisbrook, Dunedin, 2001 Carisbrook rugby ground in Dunedin. 0 of 0 « Previous « Previous Next » Next » Related Links Women leading way as rugby popularity rises Heartland XV named for Cook Islands tour An evening with Robbie Deans Canterbury ring changes for Taranaki clash ABs star Dan Carter in doubt for Tasman clash Tui Samuelu flying high with his rugby Dan Carter comeback from injury confirmed Graham Henry has 'no doubt' over Dan Carter Ryan Crotty shaving his beard for charity Canty win three-in-a-row It's just a rugby ground - bricks and mortar surrounding a rectangular piece of grass. Well past its best, too, rickety, rusty and ready to be put out to pasture in favour of a brand spanking new piece of modern technology.

But there's something about Carisbrook, the iconic international rugby ground situated in working class south Dunedin, that has always evoked a certain charm, a certain aura. Whether it's been the heavy student presence on the sweeping terrace or the trademark warm southern charm, this is a ground that has usually produced a pretty special atmosphere and, for the most part, been somewhat of a fortress for the All Blacks over 102 years of tst rugby. New Zealand's finest have played 36 tests there - not counting the unofficial international against Argentina in 1979 - and won 30 of them, with just the one draw, 9-9 against the British & Irish Lions back in 1950. Two of the five defeats have come against the Lions (1930 and '71), while Australia (2001), South Africa ('08) and France ('09) have also blotted the All Black copybook at their southernmost test venue.

The first ever test was 1908's 32-5 victory over the touring Lions, while arguably the most famous was the 18-17 win over the Lions in 1959 where Don 'The Boot' Clarke landed six penalty goals to send 41,500 spectators home in a state of delirium. But now the curtain comes down on this rickety old stadium, with Saturday night's test against Wales the final international to be played on its hallowed surface, with the new, roofed Forsyth Barr Stadium being built on prime Dunedin waterfront land, to assume responsibilities from next year's World Cup and beyond. So what does it all mean for the All Blacks who have the honour of playing the country's final test on this ground? Not to mention the responsibility of ending a two-game losing streak - the Boks in '08 and France last year -- and sending the grand old dame out in style? If you listen to Wales' Kiwi coach Warren Gatland not that much. He wasn't too sure if the modern rugby player had any place for sentimentality in their professional ethos, and that they "didn't care what happened 50 or 100 years ago".

But speaking to the All Blacks in Dunedin this week as they prepared for this historic occasion, there was no doubting how much the Carisbrook factor was playing on their minds. Here's what our All Blacks had to say about the honour of playing the final test on one of the great international grounds: Dan Carter: "There's some real history behind Carisbrook. We haven't been too successful the last couple of games and we want to turn that round and win well for the people of Dunedin." Israel Dagg: "It's a pretty cool ground, it's been around for a while and hopefilly we can send it off on a winning note." Kieran Read: "It's something we really have to do right. There's a lot of tradition there, it's going to be a great atmosphere and hopefully we send it off in the right way." Ad Feedback Brad Thorn: "This is personal for me, probably a little bit emotional. This is where it all started for me, I've got a lot of family down here, and this is Carisbrook. It's what Dad used to talk about when I was a kid." Conrad Smith: "It's pretty special, and I think everyone is aware of it.

We went to the Gardies [pub] on Tuesday night, and the guys are aware of significant icons that are leaving fine cities round here." Jimmy Cowan: "You just want to bless it on the right note. It's been disappointing the last two years when we haven't fronted for them. So the onus is on us to send it off the right way." Richard Kahui: "It's special, it's been around forever and the All Blacks have always had a good record here bar the last two games. I played for the Highlanders here in 2006, and it became the first place I played pro rugby and was a launching pad to where I am now. I just hope we get the lively crowd you expect here for the last hurrah." Richie McCaw: "I guess there are a few memories watching games while at school down here. It's always a wee bit sad when it's the last game somewhere, but that's the way it is and that new place will be pretty good too." Graham Henry: "It's a great ground, marvellous surface, and there have been many fabulous games played there by both Otago and the All Blacks.

We'd like to leave that ground with fond memories, and I'm sure the ground would like to close with fond memories." Wayne Smith: "My most graphic memory was the Lions in '83 when it was either hailing or snowing, it was bloody cold, and we had a North-South match here that was the same. We've had some really good occasions here with Canterbury and of course the Crusaders in '99 winning the final down here. It's like an old gentleman of New Zealand rugby, isn't it?" Victor Vito: "Any test you play at home is special, but especially at Carisbrook which is a fine historical place." Warren Gatland (Wales coach and former All Black): "We're honoured to be part of history here. As a player I know how difficult it was to come here and get a performance when you were playing Otago. It's not the easiest place in the world to come and get a result." Read Mike Houlihan's feature on Carisbrook here All Blacks vs Wales, Carisbrook, Saturday, 7.30pm. On the web: visit for a comprehensive rundown of All Black history.

- Fairfax Media Rugby: Carisbrook still in the running | Otago Daily Times Online News Wednesday, 13 April 2011 Rugby: Carisbrook still in the running You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. Steve Tew A test against Fiji at Carisbrook is still a possibility but there are hurdles to overcome. The game, if it occurs, will not be played at the new Forsyth Barr Stadium and Carisbrook may struggle to sell out. New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew announced last month the All Blacks were looking to play an additional test this year, partly as a warm-up to the Tri-Nations competition, and also as a fundraiser for the victims of the Christchurch earthquake. The match was earmarked to be played on July 22, a Friday night, with the opponent and venue to be confirmed. Tew told Radio Sport yesterday nothing had been confirmed on the test, although union officials were talking to Fijian authorities about the game. Political issues were a consideration, he said, and they were working through them.

New Zealand and Fiji have strained diplomatic ties after Frank Bainimarama took over the country in a military coup in 2006 and New Zealand banned people with connections to the Bainimarama Government from entering the country. Tensions had thawed over the past year but the countries still had significant differences. Tew said Fiji was the second choice for an opponent after Samoa but the Samoan union could not fit the game into its schedule. "We think Fiji will be a good fit and will be appropriate opposition for the All Blacks. They [Fiji] need a match but we have a way to go to get over the line," he said. The All Blacks last played Fiji in 2005, as a warm-up for the Lions series, and the All Blacks won 91-0 at North Harbour stadium. Tew said if Fiji was ruled out then Argentina was the next cab off the rank. But Argentina also had issues as it may not be able to call on all its players and costs will increase. "We want to have it relatively cheap to arrange so we can get some funds for the earthquake victims." Tew said the union did not want to play Tonga so close to the World Cup.

The All Blacks play Tonga to open the World Cup on September 9 at Eden Park. Tew said the new Forsyth Barr Stadium could not host the test as it would not be finished in time. The stadium was due to be handed over on August 1 to Dunedin Venues Management Ltd. The management company declined to comment yesterday. Otago Rugby Football Union chairman Wayne Graham said Carisbrook was ready and could quite comfortably host the test. "We had 20,000 in there a few weeks ago and that was fine. The ground has to be kept up as a training venue for the World Cup so there should be no problem with it," he said. The Otago union was waiting to hear from the national union and had expected confirmation last week. Graham felt the All Blacks should play in Dunedin as it would be the only time they would play in the South Island this season. Carisbrook could also be in the frame to host a semifinal of the Super 15. The Highlanders are still in the hunt, while the Crusaders are looking for an alternative venue with AMI Stadium out of action. Nothing has been decided although Crusaders officials had started to look at a possible venue.

Welcome » Forsyth Barr Stadium See What's On A versatile New Zealand events venue Forsyth Barr Stadium is New Zealand's largest and most versatile indoor events arena. As the only permanently covered natural turf stadium on Earth, this world-class facility sits proudly as an innovative Dunedin icon. Our stadium has hosted a vast array of events from international rugby and unforgettable concerts to community events, exhibitions and conferences. Forsyth Barr Stadium is so flexible and versatile, the possibilities for future events are endless. You’ll witness incredible action and atmosphere under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium, the best place to experience live sport and entertainment! Grab your tickets and we’ll see you at the next event!

Question: The Carisbrook Rugby Stadium is in which country?
Answer: New Zealand